By Order of the King

Chapter 16

Skye had already packed her trunk with the things she would need for the trip. She did the work by herself because all the maids had gone to help Lady Fiona and Lady Iona get ready with their trunks and everything they would need, and for Lord Malcolm, of course.

Two large trunks – the largest there were – were meticulously cleaned of every grain of dust and carefully placed inside linen, cosmetics, dresses, and anything else the two women requested.

It took several hours for the maids to get everything ready. But the sight of the full trunks satisfied Fiona and Iona, which was a relief.

"I will close my own trunk," Iona said imperatively, and the maid who was about to close it stepped aside. Iona walked to the trunk, smiled contentedly, and gently touched the purple silk dress.

The dressmaker had come three days ago and delivered the new dress. Fortunately, Iona had caused them no further trouble, and the dressmaker had quite rightly reasoned that all had gone well only because there was no time for Iona to change her mind again and lay the blame on her.

Skye closed her trunk carefully and pulled it into a corner. She went near the window and sighed at how she could stand being in the same carriage with her uncle, aunt, and Iona for so many hours. But it was something Skye would have to endure. She couldn't wait to get to the King's castle, not so much for the event but for the dress the dressmaker had promised her to bring. She couldn't wait to wear it. The image of Fiona and Iona staring at her with flaming eyes suddenly pierced her mind and made her shudder. She shook her head to banish the idea. She would deal with it when the time came.

Even though Skye ruled out that the dressmaker may have told her a lie about being in the castle, to insure her place and not be left hanging, Skye decided to take her best dress with her, so she did.

The last thing she put into the trunk with much care was that dress.

For the journey in the carriage, she had chosen a simple, cotton, light yellow dress which she was sure would keep her cooler than other fabrics.

"Oh! I almost forgot," she said suddenly. "I shall need a small pillow and a thin blanket for the night in the carriage."

She left her chamber and headed to the end of the corridor to the small room used as storage.

As she passed out of Iona's room, out of the corner of her eye, she saw that Iona was inside with her mother, talking and laughing.

She quickened her pace until she reached her destination. She grabbed the pillow and blanket and headed back to her room.

"Skye." To her dismay heard her aunt calling her. Skye took a deep breath. Was that necessary? What did Fiona want?

Although Skye had no desire to have any conversation with her, she couldn't do otherwise. She turned and entered Iona's chamber. Skye glanced around space before looking at Fiona.

The number of times Skye had entered Iona's chamber was counted on the fingers of one hand. The large window was open, and the gentle breeze that came in made the white silk curtains billow like the wind billows the sails of a ship.

Every time she saw the curtains, she felt a slight pang of jealousy.

Even though Fiona has promised her countless times to place curtains in her chamber, she has yet to keep her promise. Skye envied nothing about Iona's chamber except those lovely pieces of fabric hanging in the window. And yet there were so many other things that any girl would desire with all her heart. Velvet seats on the chairs and armchairs. A bed with canopy and mosquito nets, lovely lace covers, a large dressing table made of the best wood, and the round table near the window - on it was a vase full of fresh flowers and a large carved wardrobe to the right of the bed. All these pieces of furniture replaced the old ones that were there and are now in Skye's chamber.

But she didn't care, neither the paintings on the walls nor the knick-knacks – works of art - she didn't care. All she wanted were curtains, which she had stopped asking for some years ago because she was assured they would never fulfill their promises without a trace of shame or remorse.

The gentle breeze reached her nostrils, and the sweet smell of the fresh flowers in the vase and the scent of the green mountains conquered her lungs and filled her mind with images from when she was little, still living in the humble village house with her parents. The figure of her crouching mother carving the little patch of flower garden she lovingly tended flooded her mind, and her eyes watered. Poor but so – so blissful. Her heart kicked in her chest, longing for those happy years.

"Skye, I'm talking to you. Why don't you answer me?" Fiona's gruff voice snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Yes?" her eyelids fluttered shut as she returned to reality. "E- excuse me. For a moment, I was absent-minded, but I am listening now."

Her aunt pressed her lips together and stood up abruptly, focusing her gaze on her. "We don't have time for stupid and useless daydreams," she barked.

"Yes, aunt, you are right. It's not going to happen again," Skye apologized and bowed her head. The last thing she wanted was to piss her off and eventually forbid her from going with them.

"I asked you if you are ready for the trip, you lazy girl."

Skye nodded. "Yes, everything is ready. Just now I went and got from the storeroom a pillow and a blanket for the night in the carriage," she replied and held out her hands to show her what she was holding.

"Very well. Did you get a dress for the event or did you forget it due to your daydreams?"

"Yes, I got a dress," her voice was almost a whisper. She had to put up with whatever insult her aunt threw at her.

"Which dress did you get?" her aunt asked her again. "And look at me when I'm talking to you," she dictated.

Skye looked up and faced her. "The sky-blue linen," she replied.

"Hmm," Fiona looked at her thoughtfully. "Linen is an inappropriate fabric for an event in the King's castle. I have something better for you," she said, and walked toward Iona's closet.

"Mother, what are you doing?!" Iona shouted and ran to her. She stepped in front of her, blocking her. "Are you out of your mind? Will you give her my dresses? I won't let you, do you hear?" Iona said stubbornly and stamped her foot on the floor.

Fiona stroked her hair. "Calm down sweetie. I have one in mind that you no longer wear. I remember it's a little loose, so Skye will fit perfectly."

"You mean the light pink one? The silk one with the wide sleeves?'

"Yes, that's exactly," Fiona agreed and smiled.

"Oh! Okay then, you can give it to her," Iona replied, shrugging.

Skye watched Iona return to the bed where she was sitting and furrowed her brows. Iona had consent very easily, whereas she usually raised hell. Why, this time, did she accept it without a hitch?

Fiona opened the closet and took out the dress.

"That's it," she said, holding the dress.

Skye reached over, touched the soft silk, and studied it for a few moments – the long, cone-shaped sleeves. The belt highlighted the waist.

It was a gorgeous dress when Skye's eye caught something.

"But there's a hole from a burn here," she remarked, putting her hand into the hole. The hole was in the side of the dress just below the waist. Her entire palm could comfortably fit through.

"Oh! It is not a big deal." Fiona replied, waving her hand as if to shoo a fly away from her face. "No one will notice. You will hide it with a broad sleeve."

"But aunt…" Skye made an effort to change Fiona's mind.

"It's certainly better than a linen dress," Fiona countered.

"I agree, but the linen doesn't have a hole," Skye defended.

"Stop talking, Skye. This is the dress you will wear on the event day. I don't allow you to wear a linen dress to an event, especially a King's event. You are going to humiliate us, and I'm not going to allow that to happen at the expense of my family. Let's go to your chamber," Fiona said sternly and started pushing her. "Move. Skye!'

Skye was at a loss. Was it possible for a holed-damaged dress, even a silk one, to be more presentable than a linen one without a hole?

They reached her chamber, and Fiona approached Skye's trunk. She opened it and saw above the neatly folded and arranged light blue dress.

She took it into her hands. "I will take this," Fiona enjoined and turned to leave.

"Where are you taking it? I will keep it in my closet where it was." Skye cried.

"I'll give it to you when we get back," Fiona responded and left.

Skye sighed, sat on her bed, and buried her head in her hands. Next to her was the destroyed pink dress.

Her eyes filled with tears. It was so grossly unfair. Did Fiona really mean it and would let her walk around wearing a dress with a big hole when she had called the best dressmaker in the kingdom for her daughter?

She wiped her eyes. 'Thank God, I'm so lucky to have Alba.' Skye thought and smiled. 'She will come. Think positive, Skye.' She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

Then she got up, folded the pink dress, and put it in the trunk.

If Fiona came back.